of greene



A. WEST.

, Thrashing Machine. No. 857. V Patented July 26, 1838.

AMMI wEsr, or GREENE, MAINE.

MACHINE Fort rHRnsHING GRAIN.

Specification bf Letters Patent No. 857, dated Jul-y 26, 1838.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AMMI WEST, of Greene, in the county of Kennebec and State of Maine, have invented a new Improvement in the Mode of Propelling Machinery in Threshing Grain; and I do hereby declare the" following is a full and exact description,

viz:

I have a shaft made of iron or other strong material, upon this shaft arelplaced in two different places teeth or catches like those of a ratchet wheel. Hollow cylinders are placed over these in such a manner that the shaft may turn easily without turning them too. Attached to the sides, or to one side of these cylinders or circular boxes, is a pawl which falls into and catches into the teeth of the shaft before mentioned. This pawl may be placed in any part of the box.

If at the top part of it, the weight will be suflicient to keep it in contact with the teeth. If in the lower part a spring will be necessary above it, to keep it in contact with the teeth of the shaft. These teeth are made pointing all one way, so that the pawl will slide over them when they or the shaft is turned from it, .but catch and hold when turned against it. On the outside of this cylinder a strap is attached, which passes over it one end of which is attached to a lever ortreadle, and the other passes down through a slot in the treadle and is aflixed to a spring. The action of this part of the machine is thus-A person places himself upon the treadles with a foot on each. When he bears down with one foot, say his right, it brings the pawl within the cylinder over which thestrap passes against the teeth of the shaft, and the weight causes the whole cylinder and shaft to turn or revolve until the treadle is brought down to its lowest point. The weight is then thrown upon the left foot, which causes the cylinder attached to this treadle to turn with the shaft, while the spring of the bolt of theright cylinder acts upon it and draws it back-the pawl sliding over the teeth and taking new hold ready for another pressure when that of the left foot is down. By thus pressing alternately with the feet, the shaft is put in rapid motion. By this mode, as the bands or straps pass down over the cylinder, the power is always at the circumference and there is no dead oint as in the crank.

For the threshing machine, I have a large cog orspur wheel attached to the right hand framework.

1 end of the shaft. This plays into a pinion whichis on the side of another shaft. On

; the left hand end of this last named shaft, I place a. large wheel which may bemade of .wood but I prefer to? have it of cast iron. This actsin the first pla'ce as a; fly wheel but also as a part of the thresher. 1 this-On the outer sideand near the circum- To effect cular bedding is attached to the frame of the machine in front of the wheel or heaters.

On the inside of this concave are pieces of sheet iron projecting inward at right an gles to the side. This concave is made in two parts, one sliding on the other, so as to make more or less space for the heaters and the grain that may be carried down. Near the lower parts of this concave are holes or perforations for the purpose of letting the grain through and separating it from the straw. In order to prevent the straw being carried over by the boaters, I place them in such a manner that they shall not project as spokes or radii, but at an obtuse angle with the circumference. A platform is made upon the top of theframework on which to rest the grain as it is passed under the beat ers.

For the better understanding of my improvement reference may be made. to the accompanying drawings. l i

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the machine ready for threshing. A, A, A is the B, B, are the levers or the treadles upon which the operator stands. C, G, is the platform on which the grain is laid when to be passed inside the heaters. D, the large cogwheel. and thresher. f, f, f, f, arethe beaters on the side and near the circumference of the wheel. 9, g, g, g, the-springs which hold the heaters in their place when grain is passing under, but allow them to fly back completely out of the way, when any stone, stick or hard substance is passed under them. This pre-- vents their being broke and they are put back again by pressing the springs down by the hand, and turning them forward. H, H, is the concave. This is made of wood in two parts, one lapping'on the other and held in its place by screws as represented at s, s.

E, the large flywheel as I Q r is a as? The wood is sheathed with sheet iron and is perforated at the bottom as represented;

Fig. 2 represents the interior of the cylinder together with the axis band, lever or treadle. B is the lever having the band attached to it at one end as a hole, slot, or mortise in the forward part to allow the band to pass down through it and'be fastened to a'spring to draw it back. h is the axis. Z the cylinder orcircular box m the band. n the teeth on the axis. 0 the pawl or click. place.

Fig. 3 represents'the different sizes of the cylindrical box for the purpose of varying the speed.

Operation: Asbefor'e stated, in order to operate this machine the operator places himself on the treadles B B and presses first p the spring to keep the pawl in its 1 manner it turns the shaft vwhich-communicates'motion to whatever it may be attached.

Nhat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is V Attaching the spring heaters on the face and near the periphery of the wheel when constructed and acting substantially asheretion therewith.

In testimony that the above is a true specification of my said improvement I have in described,and the concaves in combinai hereunto set my hand this tenth day of May,

AMMI w-EsT.

Witnesses: i

ALFRED PIERCE, NATHL. ROBBINS; 

